different between debile vs feeble

English

Etymology

From Middle French débile (“weak”), from Latin debilis

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??b???/

Adjective

debile (comparative more debile, superlative most debile)

1. (obsolete) Weak; feeble.
   • about 1900, O. Henry, Hygeia at the Solito

     So, then, it was no surprise to the ranchhold when the buckboard spun to the door, and Raidler took up his debile protege like a handful of rags and set him down upon the gallery.

Anagrams

• belied, edible

German

Adjective

debile

1. inflection of debil:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin debilis. Compare debole.

Adjective

debile (plural debili)

1. (obsolete) weak

   Synonym: debole

Related terms

• debilità

Latin

Adjective

d?bile

1. nominative neuter singular of d?bilis
2. accusative neuter singular of d?bilis
3. vocative neuter singular of d?bilis

Polish

Noun

debile

1. nominative/vocative plural of debil

English

Etymology

From Middle English feble, from Anglo-Norman feble (“weak, feeble”) (compare French faible), from Latin fl?bilis (“tearful, mournful, lamentable”). Doublet of foible.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fi?b?l/
• Rhymes: -i?b?l

Adjective

feeble (comparative feebler, superlative feeblest)

1. Deficient in physical strength

   Though she appeared old and feeble, she could still throw a ball.
2. Lacking force, vigor, or efficiency in action or expression; faint.

   That was a feeble excuse for an example.

Synonyms

• (physically weak): weak, infirm, debilitated
• (wanting force, vigor or efficiency): faint

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

feeble (third-person singular simple present feebles, present participle feebling, simple past and past participle feebled)

1. (obsolete) To make feeble; to enfeeble.

References

• feeble in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• feeble in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• beflee

Middle English

Adjective

feeble

1. Alternative form of feble